Looking for the best options for tent camping near New Ulm? Find the best information on tent camping near New Ulm, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. Whether you're looking for a quiet, dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
Birch Coulee County Park features a shelter, restrooms, water, picnic areas and trails. Both rustic camping and camping with water/electrical hook-ups are available. Birch Coulee, named after its paper birch trees, is better known for the neighboring Birch Coulee Battlefield where the Battle of Birch Coulee took place in 1862.
$20 - $25 / night
Scout
I tent camped but looks great for rv. Reasonable priced tent $15, modern clean showerhouse. Large amount of trees for shade. Very nice camp host
Ranger
This is a great spot with numerous sites along the river. Small trails for car/ tent camping. Not trailer friendly. Small vehicles only. At the foot of the road in there a small food/ice cream shop with friendly staff.
Guide
Very close to other campers, but no one bothered anyone. Dog didn’t go nuts, got a good spot. Would recommend. Tent camping on the way to Alaska and filled all needs. Has a Porta-shitter and trash. Decent spot, windy.
Scout
$20 tent sites and have to pay online. There are No showers only toilets at the 2 buildings. If you get here at night you better have spot lights. No maps on their website. I was on North side huge area. No campground host to be found
Guide
I stayed two nights. The city park has private restrooms. Check in with the park host and he will provide you the code to access the restrooms/showers. The park has 13 rv sites with 30/50amp and water, four tent sites. Fishing pond, two baseball fields, basket ball court, playground, disk golf, and aquatic center/swimming pool. Little town has a lot to offer. Great place to camp
Guide
The downside is that the campsites on the inside of the rings are close together and no vegetation for privacy between sites. The park itself is beautiful and staff was friendly. Park is right on the edge of New Ulm which is a beautiful small town with strong German heritage and lots to see and do.
GuideWe arrived at our campsite (43E) on a Thursday in early June. We first noticed that Flandrau SP was conveniently located close to downtown New Ulm. New Ulm is a lovely town with German heritage, a beautiful downtown and great beer! 5 Stars!!!
Then we got to the campsites and noticed they are very tightly packed in a small area; they are so close together and there isn’t much to block the view or noise from your neighbors. But, it was Thursday and not many people there (yet).
In the morning, we went for a hike on one of the trails, only to get half way around when we discovered it was blocked by an electric fence (no pre-warning); I guess they use goats to control vegetation growth. Sure would have been nice to know it was closed at the trailhead. And, the knats / bugs were terrible! Friday afternoon arrived and so did all of the campers! This is a popular place AND it’s noisy. -2 STARS
Note: T-mobile service is available - 2 bars.
Legend
We visited Minneopa state park because a) I love hiking b) I’m trying to get as much state park time in before the summer hordes descend and c) my back is dying from working at home out of a dining room chair so I preordered an office chair for curbside pickup at an office store which is on the way home from this park.
Minneopa is a unique state park. A River Runs Through it. So does a train(choo chooo). And a neighborhood(kind of). If you have never visited the park before you need to decide what you are going to prioritize first because all of a sudden there are two different park road signs pointing you to either turn left or right depending on what you want to do.
One direction is the waterfall part. It is a nice waterfall. The parking lot is right by the waterfall- so it is very accessible for people who are unable to hike to a lot of waterfalls. However, because the parking lot is RIGHT THERE it isn’t the most rewarding waterfall that I’ve been to, it’s kind of like a less impressive Minnehaha. On this trip we didn’t visit the waterfall because it’s plague time and I figured that it might be busy. Tip: On the weekends get to state parks as early as possible during social distancing time! Most people don’t roll out of bed at 6 am like we did, so it will be fairly easy to socially distance yourself. We got there at 8 and only encountered 4 other hikers that were just heading out when we were almost back to our car.
The other direction is the BISON DRIVE. Yes, you can actually drive amongst bison if the road is open. It wasn’t on our trip on 4/10/2020 because the road conditions are still gross from the winter thaw. Instead we hiked the entire loop(I think it’s 3.3 miles) because it goes around the entire bison enclosure, and I wanted to guarantee that I would see me some bison.
Other highlights about this section of the park are the views of the magnificent Minnesota river, an old windmill(the blades are gone), and the campground is also situated here. This section isn’t as popular as the waterfall section, as evidenced by the relatively small parking lot. The hike was enjoyable while we were there- if it is a hot hot day you might want to just do the Minnesota River Bluff Trail for the shade- the Seppman Mill trail is exposed and you can drive and park at the mill.
As I mentioned before there is also an access point to drive into the bison enclosure. We were able to see the bison herd once we got to the mill area, unfortunately for my photos the bison were just far enough away that I didn’t get a quality photo.
Now onto the campground. Loop A is superior for tent camping in every which way, unless you happen to want electricity or want to rent the cabin which is in loop B. Loop A has trees, large sites, a bathroom, and several sites have awesome views of the river. One thing to keep in mind is that the sites on the outside of the loop are much more private and have way more trees- the inner loop is relatively open in comparison and would be good sites to choose if you are group camping. I would be prepared with lots of bug spray and a screenhouse if you are camping here in the worst of mosquito season- there was quite a bit of standing water and swampy pond nearby.
Site notes(see pics/videos): A2 is nice and spacious, but next to the swampy water
A4 is the immediate neighbor and is distinctive because it’s up on a hill
A3 is on the inner loop and is visible to the road, but I liked it anyway
A5 is a nice spacious site on the inner loop that is less private, I’m pretty sure A19 butts up behind it if you are looking to get a few sites
A12 is the type of site that I would love to camp at- view of the gulley and of the river
A14 is the site that you need to reserve a year in advance if this campground were more popular- amazing location with a spectacular view of the river
A24 also has a good river view
A26 is large and has some badass oak trees
The B Loop is weird- a lot of the campsites don’t seem to even have space for a 2 person tent unless you are ok with not having a campfire(or burning down your tent). If you have a tiny scamp you might be ok?
Site notes: B3 is a good pull-through site for an RV
The cabin is here! It has a screen porch and a propane tank for heating it in cold weather! Also has a decent view of the river- inside is just some bunk beds and a table. There is a pit toilet next to it that I’m guessing other campsites use too.
B20 is definitely the best site in the loop for tent camping- I actually would camp at this one.
There are also 4 group campsites that could probably fit 2-3 tents on them that are only a short hike-in from the parking area. Nice pit toilets are nearby. Minneopa is definitely either a nice day trip or camping trip from the Twin Cities! I was extra pleased that the drive down 169 is interesting- the terrain is beautiful, there are some really random touristy places and showrooms(giant yellow barn/extended structure that is without a doubt indeed Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store), and driving through Saint Peter is a nice old-timey experience.
ScoutIn the midst of the corona we had the entire tent grounds area to ourselves. The tent area was surrounded by softball fields, volleyball nets, and soccer fields with no trees on the corner of an intersection. There were many people, but it was empty by 9:30pm. The noise and lights from traffic were slightly annoying, but overall we had no issues! Perfect for a night while traveling
Traveler
We got a last second site and stayed for just one night. The sites were great for tents and relatively shady, but an RV had some trouble in our loop and had to move to another site. Where we set up our tent was pretty rocky and hurt the feet when you stood barefoot in the tent even with an extra tarp, so be careful where you set your tent.
There is no swimming beach, but the ranger gave us directions to another beach nearby. Next time we visit we'll be sure to check that out. Early June is good as the bugs there aren't bad at all.
The trails were nice, wish we had brought our bikes to hit the Sakatah/Singing Hills trail, looked lovely! The fishing dock was fun for the little kiddos to visit.
Guide
It's a great park in an area of Minnesota that is not well traveled. There's also a lot of history here with an interesting museum on the U.S.-Dakota Conflict of 1862.
Traveler
I had never been camping, so for our very first camping trip we went here. It’s only a few miles from our home but was a great place for us to get the family into camping. The place is very small, I believe there’s only 5-6? Tent spots but they are big. We fit a 10x20 tent plus 2 smaller tents on our site. They do have a few RV sites also. This park is by the river that allows fishing and it does have a volleyball area and a basketball court, full bathrooms and a nice pond. We were the only campers that night so it was quiet. However, this is located directly behind the police station (aka park office) so we kept getting routine drive-ups by the cops.?? I have since been to a few other campgrounds so I have something to compare it to. It’s a good one if you need seclusion and quiet. I have a family with kids and we need more than this park offers to keep the kids interested in camping. Hope this is helpful.
ScoutEverything was beautiful. We camped for a week in southern Minnesota state parks, but this one is our favourite.
TravelerHost was very welcoming! Easy to set up. Has electic and water hook ups. Tent spots available . Nice path around lake for a walk, jog, or bike. Has Showers. pets welcome.
Guide
I stopped by and the owners are very nice. They have wood and ice available this year but typically have a store that sells more. They gave me a brochure and let me take a few photos. I look forward to staying here some time. Boat access is 1 mi on the Minnesota River.
Scout
Sites can accommodate tents or up to 50' RVs. Lots of grass, bike/walking paths and dogs on leashes welcome. 14 Sites now, with plans for 10+ Sites built this summer. On site host, so typically quiet and friendly. One price, $25/night.
Scout
It was serene and beautiful. The sunset over the water was absolutely amazing. Breathtaking scenery. There is a shower and toilets. And it costs $20 for a tent sight, $25 for a power hookup sight. We'll worth the stop, I almost didn't want to leave. I would stay here again!
Scout
this is located in the middle of beautiful Minnesota farmlands. the swimming beach leaves much to be desired. lots of kids and families, if that is what you are looking for. it was a very convenient location to a family pig roast, otherwise we would not be here. but, many other people are, and are really enjoying it. so, depends on what you are looking for!
LegendWhat a great campground! Stayed here while visiting friends in a nearby town and we were so pleased with our site. I think it was #4? There was a nice leveled tent pad area for setting up. The area is wooded and it was on the outer loop, which provided more seclusion. In addition to the beautiful waterfall, there is an area with bison! The park doesn’t have a ton of hiking, but it’s a good place to stay while exploring the area or visiting friends.
LegendThis park has one of my favorite sites. The site for your tent is up a short walkway from where you park your car. My dog loves the bison drive! Firepit and picnic table provided. wood is available for purchase at the office. Shower and bathroom facility was clean and close to this campsite. Be sure to visit the waterfall in the other section of the park nearby! Will be returning this summer! Please note, raccoons are in the area, so please be kind to mother nature and keep your food and trash secure!!
GuideThis is a decent park but the sites aren't too far off the road and many back up to rail tracks with the sound of passing trains day and night.
There is an active herd of bison on the park grounds. They are fenced off from the rest of the park with enough prairie land that you don't always see them.
There are surrounding parks and bike trails that make for nice day trips along the Minnesota River Valley.
For a newer park, I would have hoped that they would have taken more care to lay out the campsites to offer a quieter and more private camp setting.
GuideOur site was a perfect tent-in site(site 15), as it was far enough away from the highway and other sites, so noise was minimal. The bugs were actually tolerable, which was an added bonus. Downsides were that the drinking water had consumption warnings, the modern restrooms were closed, and the lake isn’t swimmable. Otherwise there was some great hiking, and the park ranger was friendly and very prepared for COVID.
GuideI was late getting to my site due to being delayed by some bison in South Dakota, so I was racing the dark to set up my tent and start a fire. To my delight, I found that whoever was there before me had set up a nice bed of hay and kindling in the fire pit, which was very helpful! It was very peaceful and quiet...far enough from the highway that there was no noise or light pollution. The sheriff drove through once at night and once in the morning. I felt very safe.
GuideWe pulled into this place at 2:00 AM so we weren't really able to see much of the environment. In the morning though we awoke to a beautiful park with good shade coverage from the trees. Our group only hammock camps so we were glad to see the abundance of trees between each camp slot. The only downside to this place was the gnats. Although not that bad we woke up with tiny bites on us. That being said if we would have brought a bug net or been in a tent we would have had no problem with them. Overall this camp site was a great place to stop while we were driving to the Badlands.
Guide
This campground is a very busy place. There are tons of options for things to do to keep kids and adults from getting bored. I felt crammed in our site. We were near an area that had many RV groups and tents mixed together. The RVs stayed up partying late at night with loud music. No trees or shrubbery separated our sites for any privacy. We did have fun with activitied during the day. The lake is across the road and many go fishing. The pool is where most people enjoy their time.
GuideBeautiful, small state park less than an hour south of Twin Cities. Sites are wooded and shady but some are close to neighboring sites. Not too many mosquitos or flies for August in Minnesota! Sakatah Singing Hills paved trail runs through the park. It was pouring on Saturday so most of the other campers checked out and we had the campground mostly to ourselves. Super friendly and helpful staff, clean restrooms. Faribault is 15 minutes away so we went antique shopping at Keeper's Antiques downtown and had cocktails at 10,000 Drops Distillery for rainy day activities.
LegendAmazing campsite! Sites are large and grassy! We had a lakeview site right off the paved walking/biking trail with room for a large tent and the pop-up camper. Fire ring and picnic table provided. A man drives through the campsite close to dusk to sell firewood as there is no traditional office. Bathrooms and showers are located near the dump station and dumpster. Be on the lookout for the code for the doors during your reservation process. We had missed it and had to ask a neighbor if they knew the codes so we could shower.
Tent camping near New Ulm, Minnesota offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With several well-reviewed campgrounds in the area, tent campers can find the perfect place to set up camp.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near New Ulm, MN is Rapidan Dam Co Park with a 4-star rating from 6 reviews.
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